Pictured Above: A scholarship has been formed for USF St. Petersburg psychology senior Owen Melin, who was killed in a home invasion earlier this year.
Courtesy of Matthew Lee
By Sophie Ojdanic
The Owen Chance Melin Memorial Foundation will be holding a fundraiser festival on Nov. 21.
The fundraiser, called Chance Fest, is for the Owen Chance Melin Memorial Scholarship, which is to be awarded to psychology juniors and seniors who demonstrate financial need and good academic standing.
The goal for the scholarship is to raise $25,000. Chance Fest’s goal is to raise $10,000.
Chance Fest commemorates USF St. Petersburg student Owen Melin who was killed in a home invasion earlier this year.
Owen Melin’s father, Charles Melin, said the foundation plans to host other fundraising events that will be announced soon.
Melin also shared that his goal was for the scholarship to be “in effect within one year.”
“We are commemorating his life and passion for helping others by providing scholarships to students pursuing a degree in psychology at the USF St. Petersburg campus,” a post from the Owen Chance Melin Memorial Foundation on Facebook said.
Chance Fest will be held at the St. Pete Side Lot, at 2133 Second Ave. S., from 3 to 10 p.m. The Side Lot is an open-air venue. The festival will feature nine musicians, with John Kelly and Friends headlining. Eight local artists have also donated artwork for a silent auction. Chance Fest will also be selling t-shirts that represent the foundation.
Developments have also been made in the criminal case surrounding Melin’s death.
Joshua Pilley Jr. was arrested for first-degree murder in June. But in August, Pilley’s charges were downgraded from first-degree murder to second-degree murder because due to the pandemic, grand juries were not convening.
According to Charles Melin, those charges have once again been upgraded to first-degree murder.
Thank you Sophie for you professionalism and sensitivity during this very hard time for us. The Melin Family.